NYC's Newest Hotels

The decision to come to New York City is easy; where to stay, not always so. Luckily, NYC's hotel industry is in the midst of a boom, both in quantity—30,000 rooms have been added in the last seven years—and quality, as envelope-pushing boutique, luxury and design-driven mid-priced establishments have opened their doors during that same period. The following hotels have debuted in the last 12 months, offering experiences from the value oriented to the super luxe, in a variety of neighborhoods, as the hot market spills over beyond Manhattan.

Originally built in 1909 as a headquarters for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, this 41-story clock tower is a true NYC landmark overlooking Madison Square Park. The newest offering in hotelier Ian Schrager’s Edition brand, the property balances unique character with luxury to evoke a 1920s private club fused with today’s cool, minimalist ethos. Nearly all the 273 rooms have excellent views of uptown or downtown, and the second floor is home to the new Clocktower restaurant, which features American steakhouse cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton. Centrally situated, it puts both downtown and Midtown attractions within walking distance: SoHo, Washington Square Park, the New York Public Library and so on.Check availability.

Baccarat Hotel and Residences. Photo: Eric Laignel

Baccarat Hotel and Residences

As you might expect from a revered brand like Baccarat, the amenities are appropriately beyond swank at this ultra-luxury hotel. Furnishings in rooms and common spaces are laden with Baccarat crystals. A vintage Citroen roadster stands at the ready to chauffeur guests to destinations within 15 blocks; it's on a first-come, first-served basis. Michelin-starred chef Shea Gallante heads up the restaurant Chevalier; the bar is decorated like the royal stables of Versailles and opens onto an outdoor terrace with views of Central Park and the Museum of Modern Art. The hotel's Spa de La Mer is inspired by Creme de La Mer, aka the fabled $160-per-ounce beauty cream. A marbled swimming pool is ringed by daybeds “inspired by cabanas of the Cote d'Azur,” according to the website. Room sizes range from a classic king to the Baccarat Suite, a penthouse that includes exclusive butler service (with a separate service entrance, naturally). Check availability.

This upscale hotel is brimming with NYC lore: commissioned by John Jacob Astor at the turn of the 20th century, the beaux arts building was a hangout for John D. Rockefeller and F. Scott Fitzgerald and home to opera star Enrico Caruso; the bar was reputedly where the martini was created; and it served as home to Newsweek in midcentury. After decades as an office building, it underwent a $240 million renovation and reopened with 330 rooms this February. Right in the heart of Times Square, it's ideal for those whose idea of a New York City stay is feeling in the center of everything. The eclectic American restaurant is overseen by Charlie Palmer, Michelin-starred head chef of the nearby Aureole. For the crowd averse, the Knickerbocker is an ideal choice for New Year's celebrations: the 7,800-square-foot rooftop bar affords a perfect perch from which to watch the ball drop. Check availability.

Courtesy, Park Hyatt New York

Park Hyatt New York

This ultraglamorous contemporary hotel occupies the first 25 floors of the luxury apartment building One57, whose exterior was designed by the French architect Christian de Portzamparc and whose penthouse recently sold for $90 million. The Park Hyatt's 210 rooms, which the hotel's representatives say are among the largest in the city, include interior details inspired by nearby Carnegie Hall, and each contains a chair designed by famed architect Daniel Libeskind. (If there's any question as to the overall level of luxury, know that the staff's uniforms were designed by Narciso Rodriguez.) The Back Room at One57 restaurant has appropriately sumptuous American cuisine created by Sebastien Archambault; a highlight is the 60-day-aged rib eye, a 38-ounce steak for two (one hopes). The superluxe 25th-floor Spa Nalai offers traditional services such as massages (beginning at $225), plus a 65-foot pool and outdoor terrace. Check availability.

Courtesy, The Paul

The Paul

Located in the hip NoMad neighborhood (for “north of Madison Square Park”), this fun and quirky budget hotel offers the live-like-a-local experience via themed rooms such as the Bunk Mod (with hostel-style twin bunk beds); the Terrace King, which has its own garden terrace; and the Water Tower Double, which offers views of One World Trade Center. The place isn't short on attitude—traditional Clean My Room and Do Not Disturb signs are abbreviated to Yup and Nope—or swell-but-unfussy amenities: each room is decorated with artwork by local artists, guest passes for Blink Fitness are included and a free continental breakfast is offered each morning. Check availability.

A renovated former paper factory, this hotel boasts a funky, industrial-inspired aesthetic: rooms are decorated with reclaimed-wood furniture, vibrant patterns and loft-size windows. It's all appropriate to the artsy enclave of Long Island City: the hotel is within walking distance of the Kaufman Arts District, which includes the historic 95-year-old Kaufman Astoria Studios (where silent movies were once filmed and is now home to TV shows such as Orange Is the New Black and Sesame Street) and the Museum of the Moving Image, whose exhibitions are dedicated to film and TV. The moodily lit restaurant Mundo specializes in Mediterranean–South American fusion and hosts a Sunday picnic (which takes place in the garden outside) as well as a variety of live entertainment, including Latin music nights and flamenco performances.Check availability.

Holiday Inn Manhattan – Financial District. Photo: Edward Menashy

Holiday Inn Manhattan – Financial District

The world's tallest Holiday Inn rises 50 stories above lower Manhattan, offering sweeping views to the north and south. The affordably priced rooms range from standard queens to executive suites, and are geared to business travelers. The restaurant, the St. George Tavern, serves up Asian food with Irish pub decor. It's close to an array of attractions, including Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the discount-shopping haven Century 21. In fact, the hotel's quirky deals include the Century 21 Package, which includes a $25 gift card to the store, and the Pizza Night Package, which includes a large pie for every night you stay. Check availability.

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Courtesy, Cambria Hotel Chelsea

Cambria Hotel & Suites New York Chelsea

The first Cambria Hotel location to open in New York City, this midrange chain entry, designed by prolific NYC hotel architect Gene Kaufman, responds to a relative dearth of hotels in the neighborhood. It's situated within short walking distance of a wide range of attractions: the Chelsea gallery district and the High Line a short hike southwest, the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden about 10 minutes to the northwest. The rooftop lounge has great city views, and there's a bistro-style restaurant that offers classic American fare. Check availability.

Courtesy, Residence Inn by Marriott World Trade Center

Residence Inn by Marriott World Trade Center

Housed in a newly renovated 1903 building, this property was designed by renowned architects Stonehill & Taylor, who have carefully woven elements of the City’s history to give it a unique character. Its 243 studios and one-bedroom suites are accented in orange (paying tribute to the earliest settlers of the area, who were Dutch) and studded with details that connote industry, such as oversize clocks that pay tribute to the still-working clock embedded at the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane—installed by a prominent jeweler in the late 1890s (the neighborhood was once the city’s first jewelry district). The amenities include kitchenettes and a free breakfast; while there is no on-site restaurant, the hotel is within walking distance of crowd-pleasing joints such as Bobby Van's Steakhouse and P.J. Clarke's. Check availability.

Fairfield Inn New York Manhattan / Financial District

This Marriott property, geared toward value-driven travelers, abuts the East River and offers lovely views of the Brooklyn Bridge and skyline. Its rooms are appropriately decorated with wave-patterned wallpaper and nautical lamps; four sizes are available, and it's possible to reserve (depending on availability) one with a river view. Its advantage is its proximity to the South Street Seaport, which offers a wide span of restaurants, bars and shops, and Pier 11, which hosts ferries to Dumbo, Red Hook and—in the summer—Fort Tilden and Sandy Hook beaches. Check availability.

Hilton Garden Inn New York LIC. Photo: Michael Grimm

Hilton Garden Inn New York Long Island City/Manhattan View

This affordable Long Island City hotel is more convenient than its Queens location might indicate—close to LaGuardia airport and adjacent to several subway lines into Manhattan. Three room sizes are available; there's an American restaurant on premises; and room service is offered from 5pm to 10:30pm nightly. A penthouse suite offers panoramic views of Queens and Brooklyn from its floor-to-ceiling windows and 150-square-foot terrace. The hotel is in proximity to Queens' nascent art scene, within walking distance of MoMA PS1, the outpost of the Museum of Modern Art that hosts a number of exhibitions a bit too funky for the flagship, and Silvercup Studios where TV shows such as Girls and Elementary are filmed. A short distance by cab: green space-cum-art garden Socrates Sculpture Park and the Noguchi Museum, a reliquary for the famed midcentury sculptor's work. Check availability.

To book rooms at these and other NYC properties, visit our hotels page.

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